The Fourth Annual Meeksville Fourth of July Parade will take place Saturday, honoring military members past and present.

Meeksville Volunteer Fire Department and Recreation Department President Earnest Green said Meeksville hosts its annual Independence Day parade in hopes of honoring veterans and raising money for the volunteer fire department.

“We’ve only been doing this for the last few years, but the biggest thing we do it for is the volunteer fire departments, gathering finances and donations for them,” Green said. “This is one of the biggest fundraisers we have for the year. We want to honor the veterans and want everybody to come out and enjoy a day filled with fun. That’s the biggest thing.”

Green said as of two weeks ago there were approximately 30 entries in this year’s parade, but the organization expects more entries to sign up the day of the parade.

“We already have some old cars, some horseback riders signed up,” Green said. “We even have lawnmowers … We (will) have a lot of people come that morning. We could have as many as 50 different entries.”

While entries to the parade are free, Green said concessions will be available for sale.

“The concessions are mainly to be purchased to help the fire department,” Green said. Anyone who sells food or drink is “required to give a little donation to help the fire department out. We have a lot of people there that just come and set booths up and give us all the money to help the fire department.”

Line up from the parade will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the parade following shortly after at 10 a.m.

Green said the parade would begin in front of the Meeksville Fire Department and would traverse a mile to Harmony Community Park.

Green said WTBF would be holding a live broadcast the morning of the parade from 6:30 a.m. until just before the parade starts encouraging people to come out and participate, but Green said he was personally encouraging people to come out and enjoy the parade.

“We have more than 15 acres down there, and we want to fill it up with people and have them enjoy themselves,” he said. “I don’t think anyone will leave hungry, even if we have to give them something.”